Urine Output Measurements

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Major Diagnostic Tests

Urine Output Measurements - Major Diagnostic Tests

Urine output is an important part of major diagnostic tests that alert problems related to the kidneys. Patients who have experienced or are experiencing kidney damage because of hypertension and insufficient flow of blood can suffer severe kidney problems. Hence, it is important to measure decreased urine output that can notify you of the damage. The UO can evaluate kidney function without checking blood values. Producing large volumes of urine is a sign of a condition called polyuria. The normal urine output of a healthy person is 1-2 ml/kg/hr.

Some conditions that can increase your urine output are:

Kidney disease

Consumption of diuretic medications

Diabetes

High fluid intake

To determine the UO of the patient, a doctor needs to know their weight, the amount of urine excreted, and the time it took them to produce that urine. The formula is as follow:

Urine Output= (amount of urine/number of hours)/ weight of the person in Kg

Urine output should be measured at least once in four hours if possible.

Once the urine output of the patient is calculated, it is important to look at other excretions such as vomit, diarrhea, etc to know the exact UO.